Interview with Christina Hee Bune
On a sunny autumn day in October, we meet Christina Hee Bune at her home in Valby, where she lives with her husband, Bjørn, and their three daughters, Agnes, Dagmar, and Ellen. As an entrepreneur and founder of Studio Care, Christina invites us to a conversation about career and motherhood. When the boundary between work and family life is fluid, it requires strong prioritization to find balance in a busy daily life. Christina, who is adopted, reflects on the unexpected gift of being able to see herself in others who share her DNA.
What has been the most surprising thing about being a mother of three girls that you hadn't anticipated?
Since I am adopted, the idea of seeing myself in my parents wasn't something that played a big role in my life. But now that I have children who share my DNA, it has become much more significant than I would have anticipated - in a truly wonderful, fun, and amazing way. I didn’t really know it was something I had missed or lacked, but it seems, I have. I brought it up early on with my firstborn and it's become part of our family language, and now the girls embrace it more than I do. The sense of connection we have through our many similarities is truly overwhelming - especially for me, since the girls have always shared it.
How do you balance being a mother of three girls while also pursuing your career?
For me, it doesn't work to divide my free time or work time into boxes. I don't mind whether it's an evening or a Sunday morning when I need to get some work done. However, it's important to me to attend school events/trips, pick up the kids early on my pick-up days and make sure there's a well-prepared meal on the table when we all gather for dinner.
Do you feel like you've had to sacrifice something in your career because of your responsibilities as a mother?
Hmm, that's a tough question, but I think I’ve sacrificed the ability to truly enjoy whengood things happen because I quickly move on to the next task in my very efficient daily life. Otherwise, it's more the opposite, I've gained a lot in my career because of the responsibility of being a mother; I care less about the small things and I work incredibly focused when needed. I think I've also become a better leader in the jobs I've had since becoming a mother, as I(at least in my own opinion ;-)) have become more patient and under standing with each child.
What values are you trying to pass on to your daughters?
I hope they carry with them good self-esteem, a strong work ethic and gratitude from their childhood home. Family is important and they should always pursue something they enjoy – something that makes them happy.
How do your daughters support each other, and what role does their sisterly bond play in their upbringing?
The two older girls are almost pseudo-twins and have had endless joy from each other throughout their childhood, every single day, sharing creative interests andsports. They have always been very close and define themselves through their sisterhood within the family. The youngest is a latecomer, so she’s almost growing up like an only child, with a lot of adults to boss around. But she constantly runs after the older girls and hopefully, they will all benefit from each other for the rest of their lives as they get older.
How do you find time for yourself in a busy daily life? Do you have any particular routines that help you relax?
I exercise and swim all year round. It's time that I have all to myself and I even get better physical and mental health from it, so it's a total win-win.
Do you ever feel that there are cultural expectations about how you should manage both motherhood and your career?
There is a cultural stigma, which fortunately is being addressed these days, about women being superheroes who need to be the best mothers in the world while also excelling at work, and handling grocery shopping, and cleaning in between everything else. I "suffer" from that just as much as many others, I think.
Do you have any advice for other mothers struggling to find the balance between their own lives and their children's needs?
I think it makes sense to lower your expectations and the supermom-level a bit. I don’t know why we always think it’s fine when others do it, but then we’re hard on ourselves for "slacking." So, if anyone out there finds the"recipe", feel free to send it my way, haha! Not that I think it’s something to joke about, but unfortunately I don't have a golden piece of advice up my sleeve here.
